Thread: What would you change

Helmthh has made 26 posts and is a Rohirrim from Edoras and is not online.
Posted Tuesday 1st June 2004 (06:33pm)

Well, someone came up with the excellent idea of asking what would be "one" thing you would change about the FOTR movie if you could. Well, I believe that question should be asked of all three, so here's the one for TTT and I will not limit it to one, though if you list more than one, I would suggest separate posts or be brief (which is, admittedly, hard for me to do sometimes).

I'll begin by only mentioning one thing I'd change, as I am only going from memory of seeing the theatrical release in the theater, since I don't own either the theatrical or SEE DVD's for TTT. The one major point I'd change is having Faramir bringing Frodo and Sam to Osgilliath and Frodo's showing the Ring to the RW. I believe that weakened the whole idea of Faramir's strength in resisting the Ring and the later assertion that the Nazgul will be after Pippin since there is little doubt that the Nazgul who saw Frodo with the Ring would mention that the Hobbit was already in Gondor, yet Sauron assumed Pippin was in Isengard when he saw him through the Palantir. While this spans both TTT and TROTK, I hope the Mod's don't mind that I am mentioning things that happened in TROTK since this event happened in TTT and sets up events in TROTK. Anyway, in the ROTK movie, Faramir states that he saw Frodo and Sam only "two days ago" (is my memory correct?) and assuming that Pipping looked into the Palantir about the same time frame, I am sure Sauron would know that the Ring bearer could not be in two places at once. Therefore, Frodo's appearance in Osgilliath, IMHO, should never have been in the script.

Elfstone has made 1503 posts and is a Dunedain from Osgiliath and is not online.
Posted Tuesday 1st June 2004 (09:51pm)

Beat me to it over here huh Helmthh (lol)?

Well this is easy for me, if I could only change one thing about the film TTT, it would definitely be hands down Faramir taking Frodo and Sam (the Ring) to Osgiliath. I absolutely hate this part! It is by far and away the single worst scene in the entire trilogy for me personally! I just can’t stand it, no way, no how! It's just a flat out wrong load of made up b.s.!

Time hasn’t done anything for me to soften on this either. In fact, I hate that scene more now, than I did when I first saw it. Hate is a strong word that I don’t like to use a lot, but in this case it definitely applies! That one scene almost ruined the entire film for me, and it’s only the SEE of TTT that has redeemed the film somewhat in my eyes. I view TTT (specifically the theatrical cut) to be the weakest of the three by far (even though there are some good scenes).

Grondmaster has made 25465 posts and is a Dwarf from Glittering Caves and has sailed into the West.
Posted Wednesday 2nd June 2004 (10:59pm)

I agree that the trip to Osgiliath was ridiculous and think the whole Faramir/Boromir/Denethor relationship could have been just as easily been developed with a longer flashback.

I didn't mind the wargs and their riders, though they moved a little too fast, probably to cover up the flaws in the digital graphics. However, I would have left out Aragorn's swimming trip.

I loved having Haldir's Elven Archers at Helm's Deep, but wouldn't have completely decimated them. I definitely would have left Haldir alive to lead the remainder (about 40%) back to Galadriel for the defense of Lothlorien. Yes, Haldir's actor got a little more to do via his death scene and we saw his surprised anguish first hand, but any Elf could have shown us that, it didn't require a major player.

Bobthequiz has made 5 posts and is an Elf from Lothlorien and is not online.
Posted Wednesday 2nd June 2004 (02:02pm)

I would politely suggest to Peter Jackson that Treebeard's voice is STILL recognisable as John Rhys Wossnames... despite being electronically processed... I can't believe he couldn't find somebody else.

Helmthh has made 26 posts and is a Rohirrim from Edoras and is not online.
Posted Wednesday 2nd June 2004 (06:22pm)

Sorry, Elfstone, I thought it was time to expand. I also hated to keep the TTT scenes bottled up for fear of drifting too far OT as I can be long winded (and I can hear the collective, sarcastic: "NO! You're kidding, long winded, you?" )

And Grondy, thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot about Aragorn's swimming/near death/brought back by Arwen sequence. I agree, completely unneeded.

The Elves at HD, I liked the "touching" feeling that PJ developed for the scene when the Elves came to assist the humans, however that destroys Tolkien's whole point in that the Elves and Men and Dwarves could not ally under one flag because each race was coming under attack and had to defend their homes. It also undermined Tolkien's vision that the overall war was Men's last chance to redeem themselves and take over dominance of Earth from the Elves who were leaving anyway. That said, I would still keep it, although would want Haldir to live and some of the elves survive and go on to ROTK with Aragorn and crew. This way it would more closely resemble the book where Aragorn's fellow rangers and (two of?) Elrond's Sons find him and bring him the message on the way he should go to Minas Tirith in the ROTK. Or, a better alternative would have been to have the elves and rangers fight at HD, the elves taking the brunt of the casualties and those survivors moving on with Aragorn in ROTK per the book. That would also make a larger impression in the next movie when that crew separate from the Rohirrim on the way to Minas Tirith. (Note: Tryin' not to give too much away to those who may not have either read ROTK or seen the movie, yet while at the same time not trying to drift to a different topic).

Back to my original biach against TTT, I believe that PJ left too much of Frodo's journey for ROTK by having him go to Osgilliath. I believe it would have made for a better movie ending to have Frodo put to sleep by Shelob and captured by the orcs at (darn, can't remember the name, brain fart!). It would be like the old silent movies with the cliff hangars to lure you back to see what happens "next week". Afterall, everyone knew that PJ made three movies and that the first was a complete smash hit and the second was all but going to be as well, so it would not have been out of line, IMHO, to leave movie two with the cliffhangar. It also would have freed up ROTK from having to do what I felt was a "quick and dirty" cleanup of the events from movie two before moving on to the rest of movie 3, but that is my biach for the ROTK "what would you change" thread, when it finally comes into being.

Valedhelgwath has made 4242 posts and is an Elf from Rivendell and is not online.
Posted Thursday 3rd June 2004 (08:33pm)

I wasn't very happy about Faramir's portrail, Aragorn's swim, or Frodo's meeting with the Nazgul. These three things seem to be the persistant gripe among many fans. The inclusion of the elves at Helm's Deep seems to stir mixed feelings. Some hate it happening, because it didn't in the book, while others love it. Personally, that is my favourite scene in the whole movie. Very emotional....

The one thing I would change, however, more than anything I've mentioned above, is the omission of the sons of Elrond and the Grey Riders. I would love to have seen Aragorn's small ragged band accompany him.

Virumor has made 3567 posts and is a Rohirrim from Edoras and is not online.
Posted Thursday 3rd June 2004 (09:21pm)

I don't care about Faramir in the movies, as i finally excepted that the movies have nothing to do with the books's characters and story. So i don't mind about Faramir : it was great how he ordered to beat up/abuse that annoying pseudo-evil bunch of pixels known as Gollum. Of course, this was only in the extended edition.

Speaking of Gollum, why does everyone thinks he's so 'beautiful and great' ?! Heck, my favourite bunch of pixels is and will always be Lara Croft!

The trip to Osgiliath isn't that absurd, we can always say to ourselves : "Hey, Sauron would just have thought Faramir took the Ring to Minas Tirith, and as Aragorn doesn't look in the Palantir like in the books, Sauron now has a reason to attack Minas Tirith swiftly in the movies too!"

I don't even mind the Elves at Helm's Deep : we had to see how good the whole LOTR movie crew was in making costumes. Hey, they looked really shiny! Also, i don't mind the various Legolamb stunts and Gimli jokes : there have to be lighter moments in the movies, so that the young audience won't fall asleep or think they're watching a serious movie.

Anyway, i would take out every Arwen scene in TTT. Sure, i know, it is impossible not to give a big Hollywood star like Liv Tyler 0 minutes of screenplay in TTT, but i have the perfect solution for this : just put Arwen at Helm's Deep as well. Hey, we had Xenarwen in FOTR, and suddenly nothing of that anymore in TTT?! Heck, what a major disappointment! I was even hoping for a car-wash scene (Carwen) of Liv like in A night at McCool's...

Nah, seriously : take out Arwen, bring in Xenarwen, or even better... Carwen!

Helmthh has made 26 posts and is a Rohirrim from Edoras and is not online.
Posted Monday 7th June 2004 (07:20pm)

Quote:The trip to Osgiliath isn't that absurd, we can always say to ourselves : "Hey, Sauron would just have thought Faramir took the Ring to Minas Tirith, and as Aragorn doesn't look in the Palantir like in the books, Sauron now has a reason to attack Minas Tirith swiftly in the movies too!"

Virumor,

I understand using that logic, however, if you look at the time frame in TTT and ROTK, the Nazgul would have reported back to Sauron that he saw the Ring in Osgiliath, while Sauron himself questioned another hobbit who Sauron believed had the Ring in, what Sauron would think would be, Isengard at the same time. I believe it is obvious to Sauron, in both the books and the movies, that the Ring would go to Minas Tirith, after it left Rivendell. Afterall, Sauron could not fathom anyone wanting to destroy the Ring. However, the other problem with the Osgilliath scenario, was that, now, the Ring was separated from the Fellowship and Sauron, not being a dummy, might fathom someone trying to destroy the Ring because it would be obvious to him which direction Frodo came from in order to reach Osgilliath. Therefore, the movie adds a whole other dimension of risk that is not necessary and violates the delicate balance that Tolkien so masterfully developed in his original story.

Ashley276 has made 49 posts and is a Rohirrim from Edoras and is not online.
Posted Thursday 17th June 2004 (04:20am)

I think that I would change the Faramir scenes those ones really bothered me. I was totally shocked when I read the books and found out that Faramir was a decent character that PJ felt that he wanted to turn into some greedy freak. I think that was my biggest problem with TTT. Of course now that I am re-reading that book I might find more. But it will not change my opinon of the movies I really enjoyed them and hey I found some new reading material because of the movies. What more can a girl ask for??

Tyrhael has made 1187 posts and is an Elf from Lothlorien and is not online.
Posted Wednesday 23rd June 2004 (04:27pm)

I would have to say I would want these changed:

Sauron's embodiment as a floating, electric eye
Faramir taking Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath
Frodo offering the Ring to a Nazgûl!
Théoden being possessed by Saruman, instead of the way he was corrupted in the books...
Aragorn's unnecessary plunge into the river
Gimli's reduction to comic humor
Legolas' reduction to showing off and saying cheesy, obvious lines
Grishnákh being taken out
Éowyn cooking for Aragorn in the EE! Rofl...
And that's all I can remember, for now....

Grondmaster has made 25465 posts and is a Dwarf from Glittering Caves and has sailed into the West.
Posted Friday 25th June 2004 (12:22am)

Quote:And that's all I can remember, for now....

Cheeer-up Vir, the human mind has a habit of letting us forget pain. If you were to just stop dwelling on your painful memories of PJ's movies, you should be able to completely put them out of your mind, once and for all time.

Virumor has made 3567 posts and is a Rohirrim from Edoras and is not online.
Posted Friday 25th June 2004 (01:10pm)

Ehhhh, i didn't post that Grondy. It was Arco, apparently another 'movie-hater'.... heh. I don't dwell on PJ's movies... but it would be easier for me to forget them if everybody on the forums would stop talking about the movies...

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